This Melissa and Doug 42-piece create-a-pizza set allows your little chef to create a variety of pretend pizzas using a variety of brightly colored toppings. Kids can even customize each slice, and then slide the pizza into the box for delivery! This felt toy is great for pretend play alone or when playing with other children!

Melissa and Doug Extension Activities: -Place all the felt food pieces in a row. Practice counting the number of pieces. -Sort the toppings into groups by shape and category. Identify each food topping and count how many are in each group. Count how many toppings there are all together.-Play a matching game by creating a slice of pizza with a variety of toppings and ask the child to match your slice.-Put all four slices of pizza on the pizza pan to introduce the word "whole." Demonstrate "half" the pizza by removing two slices. Remove one or three slices to show one quarter or three quarters to introduce your child to the math concept of fractions.-Make a sauce-and-cheese pizza with two toppings. If the child is familiar with fractions, you might ask for half with one topping and half with another. Place more orders, with increasing numbers of ingredients.

JumpStart Toys Extension Ideas:-Discuss with your child the correct manners for eating pizza and in what situations it may be o.k. to eat pizza with your hands and in what situations it may be more appropriate to use a knife and fork. What other finger foods can you name? -Talk about what social situations may be appropriate for pizza to be the main course - watching football with friends and family, slumber parties, etc. When would you be less likely to be served pizza - weddings, formal dinners, etc.-Talk about how big a bite one should take when eating pizza so the mouth remains closed while eating it. Help your little one reduce the chance of choking and improve digestion by serving a real pizza after playing and teaching them to take smaller bites and chew thoroughly before swallowing.